Watchman&#39;s tour system



June 3,1941. K INKNE HT 2,243,963

WATCHMAN'S TOUR SYSTEM 4 Filed April 14, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY June 3, 1941- w. J. KLEINKNECHT WATCHMANS TOUR SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 14, 1958 INVENTOR h z'zizamJkZe 22%wecfiij- M m Kb @W M! ATTORNEY Patented June 3, 1941 airs PTEN'E OFFICE WATCHMAN S TOUR SYSTEM New Jersey Application April 14, 1938, Serial No. 202,013

33 Claims.

This invention relates to watchmans tour and registry systems and apparatus and more particularly to improvements in systems of the class illustrated by the U. S. Patent 1,394,840 issued Oct. 25, 1921, to C. C. Johnson and R. M. Hopkins, and the U. S. Patent 1,990,380, issued Feb. 5, 1935, to R. M. Hopkins, W. J. Kleinknecht and C. E. Whiteman.

According to said patents means are provided whereby a watchman is required to visit a number of preliminary stations in a certain sequence, for conditioning a key or register before said key can operate a transmitting station to send a signal to a central or other ofiice or place.

The second named patent shows a system and apparatus of this kind in which one register key can supervise a number of tours or tour sections of a single complete tour or circuit and after the completion of the tour sections send signals from transmitting stations associated with the respective sections.

The object of the present system is to provide a tour system of the above type comprising a register key having a relatively small number of parts, which may be used to supervise a large number of stations, any desired one or more of which may be transmitting stations, said stations being a relatively simple and economical construction.

Another object is to provide relatively simple apparatus whereby a single transmitting station and a single key may supervise a plurality of tour sections, sending a signal after the completion of each section.

Other objects of the invention are to improve generally the simplicity and efficiency of such systems and apparatus and to provide apparatus of this kind which is economical, durable and reliable in operation, and economical to manufacture.

Still other objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds; and while herein details of the invention are described and claimed, the invention is not limited to these, since many and various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed in the broader claims.

The inventive features for the accomplishment of these and other objects are shown herein in connection with an improved registry tour system which, briefly stated, includes a register or key to be carried by the watchman, said key having three parts movable relatively to each other for conditioning the register, a plurality of characteristic means locking two of the parts together. A differential means is provided for constraining the one of the parts to move relative to the other two wherever there is relative movement between said other two, said differential holding said one part against movement relative to the others, whenever said other two are locked'together.

Each of the series of stations has a plurality of different characteristic interior and exterior stop means engageable with said parts of the key for preventing the insertion of the register when the register is not conditioned to be received by such station; and means cooperative with said characteristic means of the key serve for unlocking said two parts when the register, when conditioned for the station, is inserted in the station, certain of said stop means serving, when the key is operated, to effect relative movement between said two parts and consequent relative movement of all of said parts to condition the register for the next succeeding station. One or more of said stations may be a transmitting station having a transmitting mechanism controlled by the key, the others being preliminary stations.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a longitudinal sectional view, partly in elevation, showing the register key;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the key;

Figs. 3, 4, 4a. and 41) show sections respectively taken substantially on the lines 3-3, 44, 4a4a, and ib-4b of Fig. 1 in the directions of the arrows of said lines;

Fig. 5 is a fragmental perspective view of part of the key;

Fig. 6 is an axial sectional View, partly in elevation, showing one of the preliminary intermediate stations, the section being taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Fig. 7, looking in the direction of the arrows of said line;

Fig. 7 is a front end elevation of the station;

Fig. 8 is a fragmental transverse sectional View, partly in elevation, the section being taken substantially on the line 8-8, Fig. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows of said line;

Figs. 9 to.l5 are diagrams showing diiferent positions of the key noses at different stations.

Figs. 16, 1'7, 20, and 22 show modified forms of the exterior stop means;

Figs. 18 and 19 are diagrams showing different tours; Fig. 21 shows another form of register.

The system as a whole A brief idea of the system as a whole will first be very briefly indicated, after which the parts will be described in detail. The system comprises conditioning the key, and a plurality of characteristic means i3, i4, 33 for locking together the lug 27 and the cylinder l6 carrying the first nose H. v

There are also differential means 50, Si, 57, 66

for constraining the second nose 65 to move rel-.

ative to the cylinder and first nose H Whenever there is relative movement between the first nose ll and lug 21, said means holding said second nose against movement relative to the lug and.

nose I i when the lug and first nose i l are locked together. The key is conditioned by operation in the successive stations, and when so conditioned by a station, can be inserted in the next station. Each station has a plurality of characteristic stop means 83, 99, 9d engageable with the lug and noses for preventing the insertion of the key when the key is not conditioned to be received by such station, and means 86 cooperative with said characteristic means [3, i4, 33 for unlocking the lug from the first nose when the key is condi-tioned for the station, said stop means 83 serv ing, when the key is operated, to eifect relative movement between the lug 2i and the first nose i'! and operation of the differential means 51, St and consequent movement of the second nose 65 relative to the lug 21 and first nose Hi to condition the key for the next succeeding station.

One or more of said stations of the system are transmitting stations adapted to receive the key when in condition therefor in said certain position of adjustment, such transmitting station having a transmitter controlled by the key similar to that of the first named patent, and means for conditioning the lug and first nose, and consequently the second nose, for the next succeeding station. The transmitting station has exterior stop means 93, 9 3 similar to that of the stations of Figs. 6 to 8.

Each station conditions the key for the next station only, so that it becomes necessary to make a complete round before the same transmitter station can be operated again.

Now the various parts of the system will be described in detail.

The register or key that each longitudinal row Iii, l4 contains a different combination of perforations.

The long lug and tumblers As explained in the above second named patent, a sleeve 26 rotatable on said cylinder is provided intermediately of its ends with a long lug 2? having bores 29 radial to the cylinder and closed at the outer ends and open to the cylinder at the inner ends. Spring pressed tumblers 33 are yieldably protruded from said lug by springs 34, into perforations of the cylinder.

A short lug 39 rotatable on said sleeve near said nose, is provided with a radial bore from which a plunger ball member is is yieldably protruded into a depression of said sleeve to yieldably hold the lugs alined, for a purpose explained in the above first named patent.

The difierential nose-control A block or plug at in the cylinder and having a short longitudinal bore 47 coaxially in its outer end is secured fast in the cylinder by cross pins 4-8, 59 passing through said block, cylinder and short bore. A pinion stem 50 provided with an intermediate pinion 5! has an inner end slot 52 receiving the cross pin 49. The pin 48 also passes transversely through said stem, block and cylinder to secure them together. A sleeve extension '53, receiving and secured on the outer end of said sleeve 26 (as will be explained), and rotatably receiving the outer end of the cylinder ill, has at its outer end an internal flange 55 adjacent to the outer end of the block 45 and cylinder it An idler 5T rotatably mounted on the outer end face of said sleeve extension meshes with said pinion 5i.

A ring-gear collar 66 rotatably mounted on the outer end of said extension 53 is provided at its inner end with an annular groove 6| receiving an annular rib 62 formed on the extension 53. An outer nose 65 mounted on the inner end of the collar (it engages behind said rib. The outer end of the collar 5% is provided with an internal ring gear 66 meshing with said idler, whereby rotation of the cylinder i9 relative to the long lug 21 causes a less amount of rotation of the ring gear collar 69 relative to the lug in the opposite direction. The key handle 68 is secured fast on the outer end of said stem 50, and is therefore secured fast to the cylinder. The handle is formed with a cylindrical housing portion 22 loosely receiving said collar 56 and outer nose The tell-tale device is, H and its function are fully described in said second named patent.

The sleeve 26 and sleeve extension 53 are secured together as follows: The extension 53 is intermediately provided with a castellate shoulder 12 (Figs. 1 and 4b) with which meshes the correspondingly castellate end of the sleeve 25, thereby holding the sleeve and extension against relative rotation. Inspection of Fig. 1 shows that the flange of the nose H (left of Fig. 1), the plug as and the pin 43 hold the stem 50 from removal outwardly from the sleeve 26. The disk 13, held in place by the collar 76 and pin 15, hold the collar 60 against removal; and the groove 6| of the collar 60, engaging the rib 62, in turn hold the extension 53 in place and the castellations meshed.

The sleeves 53 and 69 are suitable for the reception of station-indicating indicia similar to that of the second named patent.

Preliminary stations to receive the cylindrical sleeve portions 26 of' the lug members and a radial part 8| adapted to afford a passageway for the lugs 21, 39. Interior parallel ribs 83, 33' on the side wall of the housing form an approximate continuation of the radial part 8! as a passageway for the lugs 21, 39 and serve to hold the lugs against rotation, the rib 83 being slightly offset inclockwise direction in advance of the radial part 8| to form an inner shoulder 8| (Fig. 6).

A guide core 85 secured fast on said base axially of the base and housing is provided with radial bores 31, disposed in a radial plane at a slight angle, about 15 degrees for instance, in advance of the radial plane passing through the axis of the radial part of the keyhole. Said bores have outwardly opening reduced outer ends with which said one of rows of perforations l3, l4 may register when the key is inserted through the keyhole the proper distance on the core and then rotated forwardly until the lug engages the rib 83' and is disposed under the shoulder 8|. Springs compressed in each bore serve to yieldably protrude plungers 86 pressed by springs 83 against, and slightly projected from, the reduced ends, thereby to engage and push back projecting tumbler pins 33 of the key, thereby to unlock the cylinder ll] from the long lu 2T.

Said casing ll is provided with interior shoulders Bl, 88 facing and near said base on which are secured a back stop plate 96 provided with a central opening ill receiving said core, and with an arcuate notch d2 adapted to receive said nose H. Each core 85 has suiiicient plunger balls to release all engaged tumblers to permit the cylinder to rotate to a subsequent row of perforations.

A ring segment 9% on the exterior of the casing coaxial with the core has a gap or recess 93 therein, adapted to loosely receive said outer nose 65, said gaps being angularly enough longer than the outer nose to permit the outer nose to move the distance of its constrained movement. The segment at and wall it may also have a notch 95a adapted to receive a lug 53a (Fig. on the extension 53.

Any convenient gear ratios between the pinion 5!, idler 5i and ring gear 56 may be used. A ratio whereby each complete rotation of the handle relative to the lug causes one-fourth of a rotation of the outer nose relative to the long lug adapts the key for a tour of 40 stations which has been found satisfactory. In this case a complete cycle of the handle and inner nose, relative to the long lug will have caused the outer nose to move a quarter of a revolution; and the recess 93 of the ring are such that the outer nose 65 having moved a quarter of a revolution, cannot enter the ring recess 93 in which it was at the beginning of said cycle.

Operation at preliminary stations The line 91 of arrows of Fig. 13 represents an example complete journey of a watchman making a complete tour past the preliminary stations represented by numerals l to 9, the semimaster or skip stations SM and transmitting stations A to D. The stations succeeding station ill and ending with station A may be called tour section A, the succeeding stations terminating with station B are section B, and so on.

When the register is conditioned so that the inner nose ll takes the position of Fig. and the nose 65 takes the position of Fig. 9, the key may enter any station having recess positions 92, 93 as in Figs. 8 and 7. If any preliminary station I (Fig. 18) has such recess positions, it will receive the key. When the register is thus inserted, the lug 21 will be between the ribs 83, 83', the noses l l and 65 will be positioned to enter the notches 92, 93, the inner nose engaging the notch end 92'; and all of the plunger pins 32 which protruded into perforations at that setting of the register, will respectively engage with all of the balls 86 of such station, the balls 86 of that station and the perforations l3, Id of that position of the register being characteristically identically arranged. In like manner the register positions and stations of the same indicia number are respectively identically arranged.

When the key is thus inserted and slightly advanced, the protruding balls 8% push back and unlock the registering tumblers from the perforations It, It, thus releasing the cylinder, and the operator then rotates the key handle clockwise, leaving the outer nose behind in the notch 93 and leaving the lugs behind against the rib 83. This rotation is continued until the pushed back tumblers pass from one row of perforations to the next row of perforations, into which some tumblers snap. This rotary movement of the handle carries the inner nose to a new position at the other end of the notch 92.

While this takes place, the differential 5!, 5T, 56 will cause the outer nose 65 to move in the opposite direction from the position of Fig. 9 to the position of Fig. 11, thus conditioning the register for the next station. The conditioned register is then rotated slightly in counter-clockise direction until lug 27 moves from. under the shoulder 8i and the notch Q3 must be such as will allow this movement. The shoulder El and the advanced angle of the radial plane of the plungers 35 help prevent fraudulent operation of the register.

The notch 92 of the next station is so located that the inner nose 5 l in said new position will, when inserted engage the rear end 92' as just above described. Each succeeding regular preliminary station has its inner notch 92 progressively further around the core, so that in a complete series, as the section ending in station B, the inner nose It will have to pass completely around the axis of the lug.

Obviously the registers and stations may be constructed for a different number of nose positions, but ten positions for each nose I I has been found convenient. A 90 degree movement of the outer nose 85 for each cycle of the inner nose H is satisfactory, and gives a capacity of stations to the key. When the ring 94 is positioned to place the recess at remote from the radial part at of the key hole, the ring 9% must be cut through at said part 8! to allow passage f the g but the out should not be as wide as the nose 65.

Each outer ring notch 95:3 must be long enough to allow for movement of the nose and may have a progressively rearwardly different position for every forward position of the notch 92; but such accuracy of position is not necessary, as will be later explained.

After the key has been reconditioned for each of the stations 8 to 9 (Fig. 18) in passing from station A to station B, the nose 5 i will have made a complete revolution, to the position of Fig. 14; and, in the present example, the nose 65 will have made a fourth of a revolution to the position of Fig. 13, and the recess 93 of station B will be 96 degrees rearward of the recess 93 of station A.

Thus, while the nose it could again enter the notch 93 ofstation A, the nose 65 cannot enter the recess 93 of station A, because nose 65 has moved from the position'of Fig. 9 to the position of Fig. 13. This prevents the key, after having been reconditioned by station B from immediately re-traversing the stations from A to B. In the next tour section from B to C, the first five notch positions of notch 92 duplicate the first five notch positions next after station A. But recess positions of the recess 93 are respectively 90 degrees rearward of the recess positions next after station A; and. the key is, therefore, conditioned only for stations next after station B.

Thus the recess of the second cycle stations from B to C must be so far from recess positions of the first cycle stations A to B that the outer nose 65 positioned to enter them cannot enter the ring gap of corresponding first cycle stations.

In this example, after the outer nose 55 has made one complete cycle and the end. nose has made four complete cycles, the key will be conditioned to recommence the same tour of stations.

Standard station housings From the above, it is seen that the, movements of the end nose ii (without the aid of the nose 65) prevent the key from skipping nor mal stations of the same end nose cycle, as from stations A to B. However, in order to prevent the key from being used between stations A and B while the nose 65 is angularly rearward of the position of Fig. 13, as when conditioned for stations between stations B and C, it is only necessary that all of the rings 9 between stations A r and B be long enough to prevent the entry of the nose 65 into the recesses 93 of stations between A and B when the nose 65 is conditioned for stations between B and C. If there are no semi-master stations (as explained below), a ring positioned as, and only as long as, the ring 94 of Fig. 16 would. allow the insertion of the nose 65 in all positions between stations A and B, and would thus serve as a standard ring position for all stations between A and B inclusive, but would not allow the nose 65 when conditioned for stations between B and A to enter stations between A and B. The ring 9d of Fig. 17 would allow entry of the nose 55 positioned for stations between. B and C, but would not allow entr of nose 65 positioned for stations between C and 13..

This is of practical consideration since (if semimaster stations are not used), it allows the use of four ring positions and four standard housings 4! for the entire 40 stations which are possible with the example here disclosed. Where semimaster stations are used eight ring positions are possible. This is more economical than if different position of the ring 9 3 were required for each of the ill or more possible stations of the system.

Semimaster stations At times it is found desirable to have a tour section comprised of a smaller number of stations than ten, in which case we provide a skip or semimaslter station SM (Figs. 18 and 119) having housing parts as in the other stations but having notches t2 and 93 long enough and plungers 85 numerous enough to allow the inner nose H and 65 to move far enough to allow as many rows 13, it of perforations to move past the tumblers as there are station positions to be skipped. A skip of three or five stations is found practicable. This allows considerable play of the nose H in the notch 92. Consequently the notch 93 must be correspondingly longer, making as many as eight standard ring positions at times necessary as mentioned in the paragraph next above.

Thus in tour section of stations B to C (Fig. 18) the tumblers of the long lug 27 would be passed by a number of perforationrows l3, l4 corresponding to number of omitted stations 6 to T. In the semimaster station of tour section D to A, rows 13, [4 would pass corresponding to omitted stations 3 and i. The length of the inner notch 92 is difierent for every difierent number of omitted stations in a tour.

Transmitter stations In the present system, the signal transmitting station may be similar to that of Fig. 5 of the above named Patent No. 1,394,840, except that the front face of the transmitter casing will be provided with a ring segment as in the preliminary stations.

When the signal is sent, the long lug 2'! is pushed back from one row of perforations 13 or It to the next as described in said patents, and the transmitter is operated by the nose II as described in the patents. The absence on the present key of a higher digit end nose, would not prevent the operation of the transmitters of the patents; but the increment rotation of the nose I l relative to the lug 21 during transmission, would cause movement of the outer nose of the present key in the manner hereinbefore described in connection with the preliminary stations. In the present system, any station in the system may be provided with transmitter mechanism. For instance, in Fig. 19, stations A and B are transmitter stations and receive keys conditioned as in Figs. 9, 10 and 13, 14. Station C will receive a key'having nose ll as in Figs. 10 and 14 but with the nose 65 at degrees from the position of Fig. 9.

However, any station may be a transmitter station, and the station 'iD of Fig. 18 receive a nose H positioned seven-tenths of a cycle forward of the position of Fig. 9 and a nose 65 positioned 37 fortieths of a cycle counter-clockwise of the position of Fig. 9.

Single transmitter system The tour system of Fig. 19 requires only one transmitting station T shown in combination with tour sections a to d. In this system the watchman is required to come back to the same transmitting station after each tour section. This requires that the nose H always enter the transmitter at the same position, that of Fig. 10 for instance. Therefore, it is necessary that the nose H step through a complete cycle before it comes back to the transmitter; and in the tour section a, the semi-master station SM must be adapted to step the nose H 5-tenths of a revolution. In section B no semi-master station is required, because the nine stations thereof would step the nose H back to condition for operating station T.

In tour section 0, there are shown two semimaster stations SM, the first allowing the key to step from position 2 to position 5, the second allowing the key to step from position 5 to position 9, which will bring the nose ll back to condition for station T. Tour (1 is here similar to tour a. v

Operation of the key in station T moves the nose H enough to prevent the subsequent reoperation of station T by the key until the key has made the round of one of the tour sections. After the key has made the round of one section, section a for instance, and operated station T, the nose 65 will have moved 90 degrees, and will therefore not reenter any recess 83 of tour section a, but will be ready to enter the recesses 93 of section b, and so on until the complete cycle of the four tour sections a, b, c and d has been made.

From the paragraph next above, it is seen that no ring 94 or other barrier is needed for the station T, since in each instance, the nose Ii prevents immediate reoperation of the station T by the key, while the rings 9 of the several sections a, b, c and d prevent the repeating of any tour section until all of the tour sections a to d have been visited.

However, in order to provide additional security, the transmitter station of the system of Fig. 9 could be provided with a four-segment baiile Sea. (Fig. having four notches 93a, these notches being 90 degrees apart, from center to center, when used with the iii-station register. These notches would be placed on the transmitter T to receive the outer nose 65 on the completion of each tour section a, b, c or d, and as the nose travels 90 degrees for each revolution of the inner nose, the outer nose would always find a recess Site on the completion of a tour section.

A system of the general type of Figs. 1 to 18 may be easily converted to a one digit system in which the same tour may be repeated each time the nose H make a complete revolution. For instance the illustrated ail-station system may be easily converted to a ten-station system merely by providing each outer baffle ring'with four notches 530., as in the four-segment ring 94a of Fig. 20. These notches in the same bafli'e are 90 degrees apart from center to center of the notches; but the notches of each station of a ten-station system are 90 degrees in advance of the same notches of the preceding station. The inner notches er of the stations are progressively advanced, as in the longer tour systems; and when the inner nose II has made a complete revolution and come back to the same station, the outer nose will have moved 90 degrees and will be received by the next notch of the same station. In this case the baiiles t is add to the security of the system.

Semimaster stations may be used in this onedigit system as in the other tours; and registers may be constructed to provide tours of various numbers of stations, as will be obvious.

An exterior nose such as the nose 55 is advantageous in many instances, in a one-digit system such as that of the above mentioned Patent No. 1,394,840. In this patent, the number collar Zia and nose 35a are fast on the cylinder 23 (Fig. i of the patent). This number collar 250, may be provided with an outer nose a (Fig. 21 herein) which will engage in a suitable exterior notch similar to the notch 95% of Fig. 7, but preferably in the flat front of the station housing and made long enough to allow the outer nose 65a to move (relative to the long lug 27) the same angular distance that the inner nose H or 35a does between adjacent stations. In this case, the inner nose 35a and the outer nose 65a may both be provided, to afford extra security; or the outer nose 65a only may be provided, or as in the Patent No. resists, the inner nose the only may be provided.

The notch 95a and lug 53d provide additional security since they are on additional feature which has to be correct to permit operation, as the lug 53a is disposed in this notch when the long lug Z! is seated in the housing. They have another advantage, since station housings of a system may be provided with this notch in any one of four or more equally spaced positions, as indicated by positions 95a, 95b, 55c, 95d of Fig. 22, relative to the radial part 8! of the hole 8!, and the lug 53a may, during assembly of the register, be disposed in any one of similar positions relative to the long lug 21. This is accomplished by having the meshing projections [12 (Fig. 4b) of the castellate shoulder of the sleeve extension 53 disposed the same equal angles apart as are the notches of Fig. 22.

A pawl and ratchet arrangement is provided to prevent any possibility of retrogressive rotation of the cylinder it within the sleeve 26 at the time these parts are unlocked from. each other when the tumblers 33 are pushed back. This arrangement comprises a pawl lilil (Fig. 4a) slidable in a transverse bore .IUI in the plug 36 and pressed by a spring 162 into an opening I83 in the cylinder iii. The opening I63 is placed in position to receive the pawl about mid-way between the transmitter station position and station No. l the object being to prevent a watchman, having just transmitted a signal (during which the register is actuated into the N0. 1 position) from turning back the register again to the transmitter station position, for a second transmission without having made an intervening tour past the series of other stations.

I claim as my invention:

1. A register having three station engaging parts movable relatively'to each other for conditioning the register; means for locking two of the parts together, means for positively constraining one of the parts to move relative to the other two as a result of relative movement between said other two parts.

2. A register key comprising a cylinder having a nose fast on the inner end; a sleeve rotatable on said cylinder and having a lug thereon; a plurality of means for locking the lug and cylinder together at diiferent positions of relative rotation; a handle and a pinion secured fast coaxial with the cylinder; an idler rotatably mounted on the sleeve and meshing with the pinion; a collar rotatably mounted on said sleeve and provided with a ring gear meshing with said idler; and a nose fast on said collar.

3. A register key comprising a cylinder having a nose fast on the inner end; a sleeve rotatable on said cylinder and having thereon a long lug; a plurality of characteristically different means for locking the lug and cylinder together at different positions of relative rotation; a block secured fast in outer end of the cylinder; a pinion stem secured fast coaxial with the block provided with an intermediate pinion; an idler rotatably mounted on the outer end of said sleeve and meshing with said pinion; a collar rotatably mounted on said sleeve and provided with a nose and at its outer end with a ring gear meshing with said idler.

4. A register key comprising a cylinder having perforations in longitudinal groups, and an inner nose fast on the inner end; a sleeve rotatable on said cylinder having thereon long lug having radial bores closed at the outer ends and open at the inner ends; tumblers yieldably protruded from said bores into perforations of the cylinder:

a block fast in the outer end of the cylinder; a pinion stem provided with an intermediate pinion and secured coaxial to the outer end of said block; a sleeve extension fast on the outer end of said Sleeve, and rotatably receiving the cylinder; an idler rotatably mounted on the outer end face of said sleeve extension and meshing with said pinion; a ring-gear collar rotatably mounted on said extension; an outer nose mounted on the inner end of the collar; the outer end of the collar being provided with an internal ring gear meshing with said idler; whereby rotation of the cylinder relative to the lug causes rotation of the ring gear collar relative to the lug.

5. A station having a housing having a key hole, a plurality of stop means having recesses for preventing the insertion of a key when projecting parts of the key are not conditioned to be received by such recesses and key hole, and means cooperative with said key for unlocking said parts from each other when the key is conditioned for the station and is in the station, said stop means serving, when the key is operated, to efiect relative movement between said parts to condition the key for another station; one of said recesses being exterior to the housing and key hole.

6. A station as in claim 5, such station having therein a transmitter controlled by the key.

7. A station, for a register which comprises a cylinder, an inner end nose fast on the cylinder, a lug and an outer second nose all relatively rotatable, characteristic means for locking the lug and cylinder together, and means whereby relative movement between the nose and lug constrains movement of the outer nose relative to the Y inner nose and lug, said station comprising a housing having a key hole; a stationary core for receiving said cylinder; stops in thehousing for holding the lug against rotation; characteristic means carried by the core for unlocking the lug from the cylinder; and a stop member provided with notch adapted to receive said end nose; the exterior of the casing having a recess adapted to loosely receive said outer nose, the recess being long enough to permit the outer nose to move its constrained distance.

8. A station comprising a housing having a key hole; a stationary core coaxial with the keyhole; stops in the housing on both sides of the key hole; plungers yieldably protruded from the core; and a stationary back stop member provided with an arcuate notch concentric with'the core; a ring segment mounted on the exterior of the casing coaxial with the core and having a gap therein.

9. A station, for a register which comprises a cylinder having longitudinal characteristic groups of perforations, an inner end nose fast on the cylinder, a lug and an outer second nose :all relatively rotatable, a longitudinal row of tumblers in the lug yieldably engageable in the perforations, andmeans whereby movement of the nose relative to the lug constrains movement of the outer nose relative to the inner nose and lug, said station comprising a housing having a key hole; a stationary core for receiving said cylinder; means in the housing for resisting rotation of thelug; plungers yieldably protruded from the core to disengage the tumblers from the perforations; and a back stop member provided with notch adapted to receive said inner nose; said core having sufficient plungers to release all engaged tumblers to permit the cylinder to rotate to a subsequent group of perforations; a ring segment mounted on the exterior of the casing coaxial With the core and having a gap therein,

adapted to loosely receive said outer nose; said gap being enough longer than the outer nose to permit the outer nose to move more than its constrained distance of movement.

10. In a tour system, the combination of a register having three parts movable relatively to each other for conditioning the register, a plurality of characteristic means for locking two of the parts together, means for constraining the any one of the parts to move relative to the other two wherever there is relative movement between said other two, and holding any one part against movement whenever the said other two are locked together; a series of stations each having a plurality of different characteristic stop means engageable with said parts respectively for preventing the insertion of the register when the register is not conditioned to be received. by such station, and means cooperative with said characteristic means for unlocking said two parts when the register is conditioned for the station, said stop means serving, when the key is operated, to effect relative movement between said two parts and consequent relative movement of all of said parts to condition the register for the next succeeding station; one or more of said stations being a signalling station having a signailing means controlled by the key.

11. In a tour system, the combination of a key having a first and second nose and a lug all movable relatively to each other for conditioning the key, a plurality of characteristic means for positively locking the lug and first nose together, means for constraining the second nose to move relative to the first nose wherever there is relative movement between the first nose and lug, and holding said second nose against movement when the lug and first nose are locked together; a series of stations each comprising a housing and a plurality of characteristic stop means engageable with the lug and noses for preventing the complete insertion of the key when the key is not conditioned to be received by such station, and means cooperative with said characteristic means for unlocking the lug from the first nose when the key is conditioned for the station, said stop means serving, when the key is operated, to efiect relative movement between the lug and the first nose and consequent movement of the second nose relative to the lug and first nose to condition the key for the next succeeding station.

12. A system as in claim 11, one or more of said stations being a transmitting station being adapted to receive the key when condition therefor in said certain position of adjustment, such transmitting station having a transmitter controlled by the key, and means for conditioning the lug and first nose, and consequently the second nose, for the next succeeding station.

13. A system as in claim 11, the stop means for the second nose comprising a barrier coaxial with the key when inserted, the barrier of each station having a recess adapted to receive the second nose when conditioned for such station; the recesses of several adjacent stations having the same position and being long enough to receive the second nose in each of several adjacent tour-station positions.

14. In a tour system, the combination of a register comprising a cylinder, and a nose and a lug on, and both adapted to move around, the cylinder for conditioning the register, a plurality of characteristic unlockable means for locking the lug and cylinder together at certain positions of adjustment of the lug relative to the cylinder; a

series of stations each having therein characteristic stop means engageable with the lug and a characteristic stop means engageable with the nose for preventing the insertion of the register fully into the station when the register is not conditioned to be received by such station, and adapted to receive the nose when the register is conditioned for the station, and means in the station adapted to enter the cylinder and cooperate with said characteristic unlockable means for unlocking the lug when the register is conditioned for the station, said stop means serving, when the register is operated, to efiect relative rotation between the lug and the cylinder; and means carried by said register and caused by said rotation at each station to cause relative movement between the cylinder, lug and nose to condition the register for the next succeeding station.

15. In a tour system, the combination of a register comprising a cylinder having longitudinal rows of perforations, an exterior collar thereon having a nose, and a lug on and adapted to move around the cylinder for conditioning the register, said lug having therein characteristically arranged tumblers engageable with any one of said rows and forming unlockable means for locking the lug and cylinder together; a series of stations each comprising a housing having a register-receiving hole in its front face comprising a cylinder-receiving part and a radial lug-receiving part, a pair of parallel ribs on the interior of the housing engageable with the forward and rear faces of the lug, and a characteristic exterior ring" on said face engageable with the nose for at times preventing the insertion of the register fully into the station, said ring being provided with a recess adapted to receive the nose when the register is conditioned for the station, and a core in the housing coaxial with the cylinder receiving part and adapted to enter the cylinder and having a row of outwardly spring pressed plungers adapted to cooperate with said tumblers for unlocking the lug when the key is conditioned for the station, said ribs being parallel with the core and serving, when the register is rotated forwardly in the station to effect relative movement between the lug and the cylinder; said collar and nose being fast with said cylinder, whereby said rotation causes relative movement between the lug and nose to condition the register for the next station.

16. In a tour system, the combination of a register comprising a cylinder, and a nose and a lug on, and both adapted to move around, the cylinder for conditioning the register, a plurality of characteristic unlock-able means for locking the lug and cylinder together at certain positions of adjustment of the lug relative to the cylinder; a series of stations each having characteristic stop means engageable with the lug and a characteristic stop means engageable with the nose for preventing the insertion of the register fully into the station when the register is not conditioned to be received by such station, and adapted to receive the nose when the register is conditioned for the station, and means adapted to enter the cylinder and adapted when the lug has been forwardly rotated to a certain position, to cooperate with said characteristic unlockable means for unlocking the lug when the register is conditioned for the station, said stop means serving, when the register is operated, to effect relative movement between the lug and the cylinder; means for preventing the withdrawal of the lug when in said certain position; and means caused by said rotation to cause relative movement between the cylinder, lug and nose to condition the register for the next succeeding station.

17. In a tour system, the combination of a register comprising a cylinder having longitudinal rows of perforations, an exterior collar thereon having a nose, and a lug on and adapted to move around the cylinder for conditioning the register, said lug having therein characteristically arranged tumblers engageable in perforations of any one of said rows and forming unlockable means for locking the lug and cylinder together; a series of stations each comprising a housing having a register-receiving hole in its front face comprising a cylinder-receiving part, and a radial lug-receiving part, a pair of parallel ribs on the interior of the housing engageable with the forward and rear faces of the lug, and a characteristic exterior ring on said face engageable with the nose for at times preventing the insertion of the register fully into the station, and provided with a recess adapted to receive the nose when the register is conditioned for the station, and a core in the housing coaxial with the cylinder receiving part and adapted to enter the cylinder and having a row of outwardly spring pressed plungers adapted to cooperate with said tumblers for unlocking the lug when the key is conditioned for the station, said ribs being parallel with the core and serving when the register is rotated forwardly to efiect relative movement between the lug and the cylinder; and means caused by said rotation to cause relative movement between the lug and nose to condition the register for the next succeeding station.

18. A station for a register comprising a cylinder having longitudinal rows of perforations, a nose, and a lug on and adapted to move around the cylinder for conditioning the register; said station comprising a housing having a register receiving hole in its front face having a cylinderreceiving part, and a radial lug-receiving part, a pair of parallel ribs on the interior of the housing engageable with the forward and rear faces of the lug, and a characteristics member engageable' with the nose of the register for preventing the insertion of the register fully into the station when the register is not conditioned to be received by such station, said member being provided with a recess adapted to receive the nose when the register is conditioned for the station, and a core in the housing coaxial with the cylinder receiving part and adapted to enter the cylinder and having a longitudinal row of outwardly pressed plungers adapted to cooperate with tumblers of the register unlocking the lug when the key is conditioned for the elation, said ribs serving, when the register is rotated forwardly, to effect relative movement between the lug and the cylinder; said ribs being parallel with the axis of said core, the rear rib being substantially in the plane of the rear edge of said lug-receiving the forward rib being angularly advanced of the forward edge of the lug-receiving part, to form an interior shoulder ust behind said forward edge; said row of turnblers being disposed in a plane radial to the core and said cylinder-receiving part and disposed sufficiently angularly forwardly of the lug receiving part to cause the lug to engage under said shoulder before the tumblers come into unlocking engagement with the plungers.

19. In a tour system, a register having an inner cylnder; a nose secured fast to said cylinder; a lug having a sleeve movable around the cylinder for conditioning the register; a plurality of characteristic means for looking together and unlocking the lug and cylinder at certain predetermined positions of relative adjustment; a handle; a sleeve extension carried by the handle and telescoped with the sleeve and having a characteristic. station engaging protuberance thereon; and means carried by the register for securing said sleeve and extension together during assembly in any one of several relative positions equal angles apart.

20. A register as in claim 19 said last named means including interengaging castellations on adjacent portions of the sleeve and extension.

21. A register having three parts movable relatively to each other for conditioning the register, characteristic means for locking two of said parts together in progressively different relative positions, means for positively constraining relative movement in fixed relation between all of said parts every time there is relative movement between two of the parts, and holding all of said parts against relative movement whenever two of the parts are locked together.

22. In a register as in claimZl, the constrained relative movements of between one of the parts and the other two being unequal.

23. In a register as in claim 21, the relative movement between said parts being rotational and coaxial.

24. In a register as in claim .21, said positively constrained movement being effected by a gear train.

25. In a register as in claim 21, said positively constrained movements being coaxi'ally rotational and the means for positively constraining them being a gear train.

26. In a tour system, a station comprising three fixed characteristic stop means adapted to receive corresponding parts respectively of a register conditioned for said station and moved in inserting direction into the station, and to reject said register when the register is not conditioned to be received by such station, and characteristic means cooperative with corresponding characteristic means of the register for unlocking two of said parts from each other when the register is conditioned for, and received in, the station; one of said stop means cooperating with one of said parts to limit movement of such part transverse to said direction, when the register is moved transversely to said direction and operated in the station, the other two fixed stop means allowing transverse movement of the other two parts when the register is thus operated.

27. In a series of stations as in claim 26 the relative positions of all of said step means being difierent in adjacent stations.

28. In a tour system, a station comprising three fixed characteristic stop means adapted to receive a lug and first and second noses respectively of a register conditioned for such station and moved in inserting direction into the station and to reject said register when the register is not conditioned to be received by such station, and characteristic unlocking means cooperative with corresponding characteristic means of the register for unlocking said lug and first nose when the register is conditioned for, and received in, the station; said lug receiving stop means cooperating with the lug to limit rotational movement of the lug transverse to said direction when the register is rotated and operated in the station, the other two stop means allowing transverse coaxial rotational movement therein of said noses relative to the lug when the register is thus operated.

29. In a tour system, a station comprising three fixed characteristic stop means adapted to receive a lug and first and second noses respectively of a register conditioned for such station and moved in inserting direction into the station and to reject said register when the register is not conditioned to be received by such station, and characteristic unlocking means cooperative with corresponding characteristic means of the register for unlocking said lug and first nose when the register is conditioned for, and received in, the station; said lug receiving stop means cooperating with the lug to limit movement of the lug transverse to said direction when the register is rotated in the station the other two stop eans allowing limited transverse rotational movement therein of said noses relative to the lug.

30. A series of stations as in claim 29, there being a difference in the relative positions of said lug and nose receiving stop means in adjacent stations, said difference between the lug-receiving stop means and one nose-receiving stop means being greater than that between the lug-receiving stop means and the other nose-receiving stop means.

31. In a tour system, a station comprising characteristic stop means adapted to receive corresponding parts respectively of a register conditioned for said station and moved in inserting direction into the station, and to reject said register when the register is not conditioned to be received by such station, and characteristic unlocking means cooperative with corresponding characteristic means of the register for effecting the unlocking of said parts from each other when the register is conditioned for, and received in, the station; one of said stop means co-operating with one of saidparts to limit, to a small amount, movement of such part transverse to said direction, when the register is operated in the station, the other stop means allowing transverse movement of the other part when the register is thus operated; said unlocking means being positioned to require said small amount of movement to bring said corresponding means of the register to a cooperative position relative to the unlocking means; and means to engage and prevent the removal of the register when in said position.

32. In a station as in'claim 28, said unlocking means being positioned to require slight relative rotation of the .lug relative to the lugreceiving stop to bring the corresponding means hi the register into cooperative position relative to the unlocking means; and means for preventing the removal of the lug when in said position. 7

33. In a tour system, a register having a lug and a first and second nose coaxially rotationally movable relatively to each other for conditioning the register, a plurality of different characteristic means for locking the ing and first nose together in difierent relative positions, means for positively moving the second nose relatively to the other nose and lug Whenever there is relative movement between said lug and first nose, and for positively holding said lug and noses against relative movement whenever the lug and first nose are locked together, the

having progressively difierent relative positions corresponding to progressively different relative positions of said parts of the register; two of said stop means co-operating with the lug and first nose when the register is operated to effect limited relative movement between said first nose and lug and consequent positive relative movement between the second nose and lug to condition the register for a succeeding station.

WILLIAM J. KLEINKNECHT. 

